Alameda County
Biographies
JEWETT CASTELLO GILSON.
Jewett Castello Gilson, educator, business man and author, was born in the town of Rockingham, Windham county, Vermont, May 23, 1844. He acquired his education in the public schools and colleges of New England, attending Amherst College and subsequently pursuing a course of study in the astronomical department of Harvard University. When seventeen years of age he took up the profession of teaching and was an instructor in the common schools of Vermont and New Hampshire. For two years he taught mathematics in the Green Mountain Institute of South Woodstock, Vermont, and for a similar period acted as principal of Allegany Institute at Almond, New York. He came to California in 1869 and for two years taught school at Irvington, while for seven years he was thus identified with educational interests at Pleasanton. In 1877 he was elected superintendent of the Alameda county schools and served in that capacity for three years, resigning to accept the position of superintendent of the Oakland city schools and acting thus for two terms. He then established a private normal and special training school in Hamilton Hall, which he had purchased in the meantime. This private institution was conducted by him for twelve years or until he was elected principal of the Swett school of Oakland, which position he held for nine years. On the expiration of that period he was transferred to the principalship of the Longfellow school, which institution he has ably served in that capacity for the past five years. As a side issue Mr. Gilson has for many years been interested in the electrical business. At the present time he acts as vice president of the Pacific States Electric Company, which has business houses in the five largest cities on the Pacific coast, namely: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland and Seattle. He has found time for travel as a means of recreation and has also made contributions to the public press. He is the author of "Wealth of the World's Waste Places," a work published by the Scribners in 1913. He is especially interested in scientific and nature studies, having written many articles along those lines.
In 1872, at Ogden, Utah, Mr. Gilson was united in marriage to Miss Carrie T. Greene. His three children, Dr. Ray E., Cass L. and Rosse M. Gilson, reside in Oakland, where they are engaged in business.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 345
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
GEORGE H. BINKLEY.
George H. Binkley, chief engineer maintenance of way and structures department of the San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railway, was born in Richmond, Indiana, November 23, 1866, a son of Charles C. and Georgia H. Binkley. He attended the public schools until 1883, and upon leaving the high school entered De Pauw University at Greencastle, Indiana, where he pursued an engineering course until 1886.
He next engaged with the Pennsylvania Railroad in the engineering department on preliminary and location surveys and construction and maintenance work, being thus engaged in Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania until 1891, when he went to Chicago. There he was placed in charge of the surveys and grades department of the World's Columbian Exposition. In October, 1894, he entered into active connection with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, having charge of the design of subways in their joint track elevation work in Chicago. He was thus occupied until 1895, when he became connected with the bureau of streets of Chicago as assistant engineer. In the fall of the same year he entered into a contract with the Calumet Electric Railway of Chicago, having charge of all the construction and maintenance of track and overhead work until 1900. His next business association was with Kohler Brothers, contracting engineers, in the capacity of chief engineer of their railway department. He thus remained until 1904, when the went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he organized and managed the Hadley Derrick Company until 1905. He next became vice president and chief engineer of the American Engineering Company of Indianapolis, and in 1906 he went to Chicago, where he took charge of the construction and operation of the Southern Traction Company. In 1907 he engaged with the Arnold Company as engineer, having charge of several of their projects, embracing irrigation, electric railway and hydro-electric plants. There he continued until 1912, when he went to Phoenix, Arizona, as chief engineer with the Chandler Improvement Company, having charge of all their operations except sales of lands until May, 1913. Early in 1914 he accepted the superintendency of engineering and maintenance of way for the San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railway in Oakland. Each step in his business career has been a forward one, bringing him broader opportunities and a wider outlook. Important projects have been intrusted to his care and scientific and practical knowledge has enabled him to cope with intricate and involved problems.
In Richmond, Indiana, on the 27th of June, 1893, Mr. Binkley was united in marriage to Miss Bertha K. Line, and unto them have been born three children: Joanna, at home; George Holland, fifteen years of age, who is attending high school; and Margaret, who is a public school pupil. Mr. Binkley holds membership with the Masonic fraternity. He has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is likewise a member of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Phi Gamma Delta college fraternity, and he gives his political support to the republican party. Along strictly professional lines his connection is with the Western Society of Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He stands among those whose ability has spelled prominence and distinction in his chosen calling, his record being an honor to the profession.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 346
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler